Nashville Church of Scientology Celebrates the New Year 2017

Nashville’s Church of Scientology saw a whirlwind of activity during 2016. Parishioners will gather on New Year’s Eve to celebrate a year of accomplishments and look forward to the coming months.

The Nashville Church of Scientology has much to celebrate as 2016 comes to a close. Scientologists will look back on the time spent on programs aimed at drug reform, literacy, and improving morality across cultures, during a special celebration on New Year’s Eve.

The Nashville Church began the year as an organizing partner with other community leaders and pastors for the annual march and convocation for MLK Day. Next, the Church hosted an event to commemorate International Holocaust Remembrance Day while also revealing “the Men Behind Hitler.”

In the spring, the Church was happy to host a Survival Training workshop geared toward understanding how to prepare for and act in times of disaster with leading professionals on the subject; a Fitness Fair to help educate the community how to be healthy, happy and drug-free; an educational meeting on improving the environment; and a community gathering for International Friendship Day which had 60 guests of diverse faiths, cultures, and races all together overcoming stereotypes and other obstacles to friendship.

The church hosted a forty member group from Historic Nashville Inc., for a tour, as well as nearly thirty students from Middle Tennessee State University.

During summer, the church held an anniversary celebration for thirty-one years in Music City with a large-scale gala where community guests, parishioners and friends were able to recognize members’ achievements and look forward to the many years ahead. In September, the church held a forum on domestic violence for the International Day of Peace on the theme: Know Your Rights and Survive—Overcoming Domestic Violence, where local experts talked about the problem and things people can do to help victims. Also for International Day of Peace, Pastor of the Church, Rev. Brian Fesler, participated in an interfaith service at Fisk University to promote peace and dedicate a peace pole on Fisk campus.

Church members spent several months distributing copies of L. Ron Hubbard’s booklet The Way to Happiness, working with people who have been abused in the field of mental health, and promoting human rights messages across Middle Tennessee.

In October, church members held a series of events for Red Ribbon Week, a week meant to promote drug-free living. These events included booklet distributions of the Truth About Drugs booklet, educational seminars and one-on-one meetings to enlighten leaders on the materials.

In November, the Church hosted the annual Artlightenment art and film festival, which this year was themed “America: It’s Cultures and Influences.” In its eighth year, this was the most successful to date in terms of the attendance and number of artists participating, both locally and internationally.  The festival included a film festival, fashion show as well as having a plethora of fine art, painting and photography displays.

In December, the Church worked with local and state government agencies and non-profit organizations to plan the Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day. During the celebration, human rights advocates were awarded for their service to the community.

Church pastor Rev. Brian Fesler said, "2016 was an amazing year. I’m extremely proud of the work our members are doing in and with the community. We are very excited about 2017, and will be expanding our programs exponentially in alignment with our mother Church’s international approach." For more information about Scientology, visit www.scientology-ccnashville.org.    

2016 Year in Review – Tennessee United for Human Rights

2016 saw the expansion of Tennessee United for Human Rights, carrying out the work of the international organization United for Human Rights in the Southeast United States.

Tennessee United for Human Rights (TUHR) was formed as a non-profit public benefit corporation in 2015 to educate Tennesseans on the basic principles and foundations of human rights. In 2016, the organization has taken great strides to provide help to people of all ages so they may understand their basic human rights.

Volunteers began the year by participating at the annual convocation for Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. at the Tennessee State University Gentry Center. They distributed the What are Human Rights? Booklets, spoke to community and religious leaders about the human rights education curriculum and how to help people with this knowledge.

Next, the chapter organized a large event for International Day of Peace centered on the theme of domestic violence. The theme was “Know Your Rights and Survive: Overcoming Domestic Violence,” and featured a panel discussion of experts on the topic. There were also several human rights organizations who came out to share information on what they do to further help those attending.

Then, to close out the year, TUHR was a co-organizer for the annual Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day, a spectacular event which showcased human rights leaders for their work and uplifted others.

TUHR is planning to begin 2017 with several events to continue promoting human rights, especially during and around the MLK celebration and during Black History Month.

TUHR is the local chapter of United for Human Rights (UHR), an international, not-for-profit organization dedicated to implementing the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Its membership is comprised of individuals, educators and groups throughout the world who are actively forwarding the knowledge and protection of human rights by and for all Mankind, according to humanrights.com.

United for Human Rights was founded on the Declaration’s 60th anniversary, in the face of continued worldwide abuses which violate the spirit, intent and Articles of this charter of all human rights, the first such document ever ratified by the community of nations. For more information about United for Human Rights, go to www.humanrights.com.

Nashville Church of Scientology Bringing the Spirit to the Holiday Season

How do Scientologists celebrate the holidays?  You might be surprised.

More than 10,000 Scientology Churches, missions, related organizations and affiliated groups minister to millions in 165 countries, according to Scientology.org. Because of this worldwide diversity, Scientologists come from a wide variety of faiths and cultural traditions. But no matter their background, they, like most people, gather with loved ones to enjoy the warmth of friends and family and celebrate the joy of the holiday season.

Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard honored the great religious leaders of the past for the wisdom they brought to the world, writing that Scientology shares “the goals set for Man by Christ, which are wisdom, good health and immortality.” It is in this spirit that Scientologists celebrate the holiday season, whether they observe Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or any other religious or cultural tradition.

Pastor of the Nashville Church, Rev. Brian Fesler, says, “Our church captures the spirit of the holidays. We bring people together to celebrate and plan the year ahead, and everyone is welcome here throughout the season.”

The Church annually celebrates New Year’s Eve with a large-scale event that all parishioners and members of the community are invited to attend. It is at this event that the church reviews the accomplishments for the year and sets the course for the year to come.

For more information about Scientology, visit www.scientology.org. 

Nashville Church of Scientology Uplifts Youth for International Human Rights Day

Part of an international movement spanning 192 countries, the Church of  Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville is raising awareness of human rights in commemoration of the 68^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

The Nashville Church of Scientology held a special presentation to acknowledge youth on International Human Rights Day, December 10^th, this year. Prior to the celebration, the church worked with Tennessee United for Human Rights to produce a video of children each saying an abbreviated version of one of the human rights. This video was then shown during the Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day, which occurred this year on December 6^th at the First Amendment Center. This video was a hit at the event, and so, to acknowledge all of the children who participated, the Church of Scientology felt they should be thanked with a celebration of their own.

The children who participated in the video were from a wide variety of backgrounds, religions, races and creeds, but the message they forwarded was with one voice: you have a right to know your human rights.

During the celebration, the children were able to view the final video for the first time, hear more about how to get involved to help others know their rights through Youth for Human Rights, and share food and drinks with friends.

The video can be viewed here: http://nashvillehumanrights.org/.

Human Rights day commemorates the United Nations adoption in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights--the world's premier human rights document. Despite the best intentions of those who crafted the Declaration, 68 years later, the UN points out, "disrespect for basic human rights continues to be widespread in all parts of the globe. Extremist movements subject people to horrific violence. Messages of intolerance and hatred prey on our fears. Humane values are under attack."

Human rights are an integral part of the Scientology religion. The Creed of the Church of Scientology, written in 1954 by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, begins: "We of the Church believe: That all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights." And the Code of a Scientologist calls on all Scientologists "to support true humanitarian endeavors in the fields of human rights."

The Church of Scientology and Scientologists support United for Human Rights, the world's largest nongovernmental human rights education campaign, active in 192 countries and partnering with 1,500 groups and organizations.  The initiative is inspired by Mr. Hubbard's conviction that "It is vital that all thinking men urge upon their governments sweeping reforms in the field of human rights."

Tennessee Human Rights Day Celebration Acknowledges Heroes, Brings Awareness to Key Issues

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day takes place each year in early December at the First Amendment Center.

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day took place in Nashville at the First Amendment Center on December 6th, 2016.  At the focus of the celebration is the presentation of awards to human rights champions in three categories: Rising Advocate, Outstanding Service and Lifetime Achievement. Past recipients of these prestigious honors have included the Rev. Bill Barnes, Rev. James “Tex” Thomas, Rosetta Miller Perry, Father Joseph Breen, Avi Poster, Yuri Cunza, Remziya Suleyman and many more.

A committee of human rights organizations and nonprofits, including the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Metro Human Relations Commission, United Nations Association, UNICEF, Tennessee Board of Regents, Amnesty International, Tennessee United for Human Rights, the Church of Scientology, Muslim Women’s Council and others, worked together to plan and organize the event.

This year, Rising Advocate Awards were given to three individuals who have made great strides for human rights and show even greater promise for the future. They were Anna Carella, who has worked both locally and in other parts of the world to help others in need and most recently with Advocates for Women's and Kids' Equality (AWAKE); Justin Jones, a Fisk University senior who has already proven himself as a strong advocate for social justice and peace by organizing several events, marches and protests with the purpose to help others; and Mohamed Shukri-Hassan, who works with the Tennessee Immigrants and Refugee Rights Coalition and American Center for Outreach and was on the first Mayor’s New Americans Advisory Council.

The award winners in the category of Outstanding Service were Juan Canedo for his work on issues that affect the wellbeing of the Hispanic community and the community at large, with particular emphasis on empowering Hispanic immigrants; and Derri Smith, who is the Founder and Executive Director of End Slavery Tennessee.  

The Lifetime Achievement award this year went to Dr. Charles Kimbrough, a longtime civil rights activist who established and organized NAACP chapters in four different cities across the South and served as President of the Nashville Branch, where he saw a surge in chapter membership, addressing civil rights issues within the local African American community.

International Human Rights Day occurs every year to commemorate the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations on Dec 10, 1948. The theme this year was “Hidden in our Midst: Child Trafficking in Tennessee,” and it is under this theme that experts brought new awareness to this issue. Those who participated in the public conversation included Jerry Redman, Co-Founder & CEO of Second Life of Chattanooga; Margie Quin, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations; Susan Watson, an attorney for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid; and Shelia Simpkins Mcclain, Director of Survivor Services for End Slavery Tennessee.

For more information on the event, to see photos or to watch videos of the awardees, visit www.nashvillehumanrights.org.  

Nashville Scientologists Stand Up for Human Rights on Human Rights Day 2016

Part of an international movement spanning 192 countries, the Church of  Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville is raising awareness of human rights in commemoration of the 68^th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Nashville Scientologists join Scientology Churches, Missions and groups across the world in carrying out the theme of International Human Rights Day 2016, "Stand up for someone's rights today!"

The Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville took part in organizing the Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day, held on December 6, 2016 in the John Seigenthaler Center in Nashville. More than one hundred people interested in human rights attended the event which was centered on the theme “Hidden in Our Midst: Child Trafficking in Tennessee.”

A panel of experts on the topic of human trafficking presented information and brought new awareness to this issue. Awards were then presented to human rights leaders in three categories: Rising Advocate, Outstanding Service and Lifetime Achievement.  

Human Rights day commemorates the United Nations adoption in 1948 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights--the world's premier human rights document. Despite the best intentions of those who crafted the Declaration, 68 years later, the UN points out, "disrespect for basic human rights continues to be widespread in all parts of the globe. Extremist movements subject people to horrific violence. Messages of intolerance and hatred prey on our fears. Humane values are under attack."

Human rights are an integral part of the Scientology religion. The Creed of the Church of Scientology, written in 1954 by Scientology Founder L. Ron Hubbard, begins: "We of the Church believe: That all men of whatever race, color or creed were created with equal rights." And the Code of a Scientologist calls on all Scientologists "to support true humanitarian endeavors in the fields of human rights."

The Church of Scientology and Scientologists support United for Human Rights, the world's largest nongovernmental human rights education campaign, active in 192 countries and partnering with 1,500 groups and organizations.  The initiative is inspired by Mr. Hubbard's conviction that "It is vital that all thinking men urge upon their governments sweeping reforms in the field of human rights."

Nashville Religion Communicators Council Discusses Election Results

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council holds bi-monthly meetings to discuss hot topics and have deep discussions on what is happening in the world today.

An interfaith communications organization, the Religion Communicators Council (RCC), has chapters across the United States. In Nashville, the group meets every other month for its series “Building Bridges Over Bagels.” Organizers say this concept is all about strengthening ties between people of different faiths and breaking bread together.

In November, the group met for breakfast at United Methodist Communications on 12^th Avenue South. Members discussed the recent presidential election results and how to bring people together following such a tumultuous election season which left many people reeling.

RCC members agreed that it will take time for many people to adjust, and that one way to help those who are very torn up about the results is to listen to them.

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus and more. For more information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World Americas Chapter Honors Red Ribbon Week with Series of Events

The Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW) holds a variety of events throughout the year to benefit the community through drug education, prevention and awareness.

According to a WhiteHouse.gov drug control update, from 2009-2010, New York was one of the top ten states for drug-use rates. Approximately 9.82 percent of New York residents reported past-month use of illicit drugs whereas the national average was 8.82 percent.

“This must change,” says Pamela Vilinsky, Regional Coordinator for the Foundation for a Drug-Free World (FDFW) Americas Chapter based in New York, “To prevent even more of an epidemic, we are working twice as hard to spread the truth about drugs.”

During the final week of October, the FDFW presented drug education seminars to several schools, community centers, and to the Boys & Girls Clubs in New Jersey in partnership with the DEA. Not only that, the chapter held several awareness events such as "Meet a Cop" where people were also invited to grab a free copy of the Truth About Drugs booklets.  The Founder of the Americas Chapter of FDFW, Ben Fialkoff, also presented Drug Education Certificates to Law Enforcement Officers as well as held an event with NYPD Explorers Club.

The series of events was to honor Red Ribbon Week, which occurs during the last week of October each year and is a time to educate people and prevent drug abuse. The Red Ribbon Campaign was started when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered DEA agent Kiki Camarena in 1985. This began the continuing tradition of displaying Red Ribbons as a symbol of intolerance towards the use of drugs. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a Drug-Free America, according to redribbon.org.

“We are always proud to participate in Red Ribbon Week, as part of a unified voice that says ‘we are not going to let drugs continue to ruin lives across the world,’” says Vilinsky.

The FDFW Americas Chapter is part of the worldwide effort to end drug abuse through education, the Foundation for a Drug-Free World. To learn about the work done in New York, New Jersey, Washington DC, and Latin America, visit DrugFreeWorldAmericas.org.

Artlightenment 8th Annual Festival Brilliantly Illuminates Nashville Talent

Eighth Annual multi-media art and film festival, Artlightenment, was a smash success in highlighting local as well as International artists.

Artlightenment, the annual multi-media art show and film festival, has recently come to an end. This year, more than thirty visual artists, painters and photographers, and more than forty filmmakers, were showcased at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville. The festival was created by painter, sculptor and film producer, Robyn Morshead in 2009, and has only grown over the years to include workshops, live music and a fashion show, making it a vital force in Nashville’s creative community.

Beginning with an artists’ tea and workshop by Morshead and fashion designer Elisabeth Donaldson on the subject “How to Sell Your Art,” the festival went on to delight the hundreds of people who passed through.   

The theme of this year’s festival was “America-Its Cultures and Influences” and featured the work of legendary painter Jim Warren, one of the most versatile and successful artists living today. The whimsically surreal and amazingly unique creations he paints have inspired artists from around the world. Winning a Grammy Award for his cover art of Bob Seger’s “Against the Wind” album, Warren has also painted portraits of such notable figures as Brooke Shields, the Beach Boys and Kelsey Grammar for the Fame-Wall project in New York and continues to collaborate with Disney Studios on various projects.  Just before the Artlightenment awards ceremony, he spoke about his legendary career, which has spanned four decades.

In addition to Mr. Warren’s work, over 30 visual artists displayed their artwork, including featured artists Christopher Gatelock, Raeanne Rubenstein, and Samantha Ornellas. The 2016 Film Festival included short films created by both Nashville filmmakers and filmmakers from 35 countries around the world.  Artlightenment was also proud to feature professors and student filmmakers from Middle Tennessee State University, including well-known Documentary Filmmaker Tom Neff who showcased some of his photography.

For more information on the Artlightenment Art and Film Festival, and to stay in touch for the 2017 show, visit artlightenment.com.  

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee Spreading Calm in Nashville

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee has been distributing booklets to households in the heart of Nashville.  

According to website NeighborhoodScout.com, which provides crime statistics and other data for people looking to buy a home, the neighborhood they refer to as Eighth Avenue South/Wedgewood Avenue is the 18th most dangerous neighborhood in America. The website claims that a resident of the neighborhood has a 1 in 14 chance of being a victim of a crime over the period of a year.

So The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee began its efforts to halt crime in this area, by distributing the Way to Happiness booklets, written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s. These books sparked a movement and have been reprinted and passed hand to hand to a wide variety of cultures and peoples. In Tennessee, The Way to Happiness Association has been spreading its message even further in recent years, and has no plans to stop anytime soon. Why? Organizers for the group say where it is distributed crime rates plummet, as proven by statistics.

"This book is based on common sense principles and acts as a moral compass,” says Judy Young, Director of The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee, “when people read it, they are able to easily put the concepts in it into practice to live a better life.” Recently, a group of volunteers distributed more than 300 booklets to households in the community.

According to thewaytohappiness.org, “This code of conduct can be followed by anyone, of any race, color or creed and works to restore the bonds that unite humankind.” In the three decades since it was authored, 100 million copies of the book passed hand to hand. For more information, visit twthtn.org.

Tennessee Human Rights Day to Have Public Conversation on Child Trafficking

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day will take place in Nashville at the First Amendment Center on December 6th, 5pm – 7pm.  

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day will take place in Nashville at the First Amendment Center on December 6th, from 5pm – 7pm.  The celebration centers around the presentation of awards to human rights champions, but also maintains educational pieces to help those attending understand the sate of human rights, and human rights abuses across the state. This year, the planning committee has chosen to address child trafficking and is bringing in experts for a public conversation on the topic.

The planning committee is composed of human rights organizations and nonprofits, including the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Metro Human Relations Commission, United Nations Association, UNICEF, Tennessee Board of Regents, Amnesty International, Tennessee United for Human Rights, the Church of Scientology, Muslim Women’s Council and others.

The theme chosen by the committee is “Hidden in Our Midst: Child Trafficking in Tennessee,” and it is under this theme the public conversation will operate. Those speaking to this topic are Jerry Redman, Co-Founder & CEO of Second Life of Chattanooga; Margie Quin, Assistant Special Agent in Charge for the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations; Susan Watson, an attorney for Texas RioGrande Legal Aid; and Shelia Simpkins Mcclain, Director of Survivor Services for End Slavery Tennessee.

International Human Rights Day occurs every year to commemorate the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations on Dec 10, 1948. The event this year is ticketed at $10, with proceeds going to a Tennessee non-profit dedicated to human rights. For more information or to reserve a seat, visit www.nashvillehumanrights.org.  

Artlightenment Festival Hosts Artists’ Tea

Eighth Annual Multi-media Art and Film Festival, Artlightenment, held its annual artists’ tea and pre-show workshop.

Artlightenment, the annual multi-media art show and film festival, which this year will showcase more than thirty visual artists, painters and photographers, and more than forty filmmakers, will run November 10-12 at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville, 1130 8^th Ave. S., Nashville, TN, 37203. Created by painter, sculptor and film producer, Robyn Morshead in 2009, this three day event also features workshops, live music and a fashion show, making it a vital force in Nashville’s creative community.

This past weekend, the festival held its annual artists’ tea, with all visual artists invited to meet one another before the show. They were also treated to a workshop by Morshead and fashion designer Elisabeth Donaldson on the subject “How to Sell Your Art.”

The theme of this year’s festival is “America-Its Cultures and Influences” and will feature the work of legendary painter Jim Warren, one of the most versatile and successful artists living today. Ticketholders will enjoy a rare opportunity, not only to see Mr. Warren’s work, but to meet him in person during a brief reception, on Saturday, November 12 at 6:30pm. He will then speak about his legendary career, which has spanned four decades.

In addition to Mr. Warren’s work, over 30 visual artists will have their art on display beginning at 6:00 pm on Thursday, November 10. The 2016 Film Festival will include short films created by both Nashville filmmakers and filmmakers from 35 countries around the world. These films will be screened nightly throughout the Festival.

Artlightenment is also proud to feature professors and student filmmakers from MTSU, including well-known Documentary Filmmaker Tom Neff who will showcase some of his photography. These works will be shown throughout the Festival’s three day run.

Tickets for this revolutionary event are $10 for three days. Ticketholders have access to all exhibits and workshops as well as the Film Festival and closing-night awards and fashion shows. For more information on the Artlightenment 2016 Art and Film Festival, to see the schedule of events, or to purchase tickets, please visit: http://www.artlightenment.com.  Enjoy a sneak-peek of Artlightenment’s Art Show, (no ticket required) on November 5, which will dovetail with the WEHO Art Crawl, beginning at 6:00 pm at 1130 8^th Ave. S., Nashville, TN, 37203.

Drug-Free Tennessee Holds Events to Honor Red Ribbon Week for 2016

Drug-Free Tennessee holds a variety of events throughout the year to benefit the community through education and awareness.

According to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigations, 80% of crimes in the state have some drug-related nexus. Additionally, Tennessee's uninsured coupled with a high rate of prescribed painkillers are contributing factors behind the state's rise in heroin addiction and overdoses, according to a new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report.

To protect people from the disastrous effects of drugs, Drug-Free Tennessee had meetings with community leaders and events to educate people and provide resources during Red Ribbon Week.  Volunteers distributed Truth About Drugs booklets, which helps people understand what drugs are and how they affect the user,  to residents of Edgehill and 12 South neighborhoods, as well as met with government officials interested in health and wellness.

Red Ribbon Week occurs during the last week of October each year and is a time to educate people and help prevent drug abuse. The Red Ribbon Campaign was started when drug traffickers in Mexico City murdered DEA agent Kiki Camarena in 1985. This began the continuing tradition of displaying Red Ribbons as a symbol of intolerance towards the use of drugs. The mission of the Red Ribbon Campaign is to present a unified and visible commitment towards the creation of a Drug-Free America, according to redribbon.org.

Drug-Free Tennessee is a chapter of the Foundation for a Drug-Free World, an international non-profit organization. Its materials demonstrate the dangers of drugs through factual information and interviews with former addicts giving personal perspectives on each of the substances covered. For more information on Drug-Free Tennessee, visit drugfreetn.org.

Artlightenment Festival Releases 2016 Schedule

Organizers have just released the schedule for Artlightenment, an annual film and art festival which takes place at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville.

Nashville is a city for the arts. While it goes by the name Music City, there is a wide variety of art beyond music that residents partake in: film, design, photography, fashion, sculpting, painting, and more. And for the past seven years, these art forms have all come to light in one explosive event: the annual Artlightenment film and art festival.

Artlightenment 2016 will see its eighth year of the festival which continues to grow and change while inviting even greater participation from the community. Organizers of the event have just released the schedule for this year, beginning with a pre-show workshop for artists titled “Selling your Art with Social Media and Traditional Methods,” on October 30 from 1-3pm.

The opening for the art show is November 5 from 6-10pm, and will have over 35 artists displaying their artwork. Among them will be featured artist and legendary painter Jim Warren, one of the most versatile and successful artists living today. The whimsically surreal and amazingly unique creations he paints have inspired artists from around the world. Winning a Grammy Award for his cover art of Bob Seger’s “Against the Wind” album, Warren has also painted portraits of such notable figures as Brooke Shields, the Beach Boys and Kelsey Grammar for the Fame-Wall project in New York and continues to collaborate with Disney Studios on various projects.  

November 10-12 is the film festival, which will feature over 40 films created by filmmakers locally and internationally.  November 12 is the final day of the art show and film festival and will include a meet and greet with featured artist Jim Warren at 6:30pm, followed by the Artlightenment Awards at 7:30pm, then concludes with a fashion show by Monarch Clothing designed by Elisabeth Donaldson at 8:30pm.

According to the Artlightenment website, the festival was created from founder Robyn Morshead’s dream to help artists by giving them a festival dedicated to no other cause than the art itself. “This is a festival about them, the artists, and what they have to say,” says Morshead. The festival takes place at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville, 1130 8^th Avenue South. For more information, visit artlightenment.com.

Tennessee Human Rights Day Celebration to Honor Human Rights Heroes

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day will take place in Nashville at the First Amendment Center on December 6th, 5pm – 7pm.  

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day will take place in Nashville at the First Amendment Center on December 6th, from 5pm – 7pm.  The celebration centers around the presentation of awards to human rights champions in three categories: Rising Advocate, Outstanding Service and Lifetime Achievement. Past recipients of these prestigious honors have included the Rev. Bill Barnes, Rev. James “Tex” Thomas, Rosetta Miller Perry, Father Joseph Breen, Avi Poster, Yuri Cunza and many more.

A committee of human rights organizations and nonprofits, including the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Metro Human Relations Commission, United Nations Association, UNICEF, Tennessee Board of Regents, Amnesty International, Tennessee United for Human Rights, the Church of Scientology, Muslim Women’s Council and others, work together each year to plan the event.

This year, Rising Advocate Awards will be given to three individuals who have made great strides for human rights and show even greater promise for the future. They are Anna Carella, who has worked both locally and in other parts of the world to help others in need and most recently with Advocates for Women's and Kids' Equality (AWAKE); Justin Jones, a Fisk University senior who has already proven himself as a strong advocate for social justice and peace by organizing several events, marches and protests with the purpose to help others; and Mohamed Shukri, who works with the Tennessee Immigrants and Refugee Rights Coalition, American Center for Outreach and was on the first Mayor’s New Americans Advisory Council.

The award winners in the category of Outstanding Service are Juan Canedo for his work on issues that affect the wellbeing of the Hispanic community and the community at large, with particular emphasis on empowering Hispanic immigrants; and Derri Smith, who is the Founder and Executive Director of End Slavery Tennessee.  

The Lifetime Achievement award this year is going to Dr. Charles Kimbrough, a longtime civil rights activist who established and organized NAACP chapters in four different cities across the South and served as President of the Nashville Branch, where he saw a surge in chapter membership, addressing civil rights issues within the local African American community.

International Human Rights Day occurs every year to commemorate the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights by the United Nations on Dec 10, 1948. The theme for 2016 is “Hidden in our Midst: Child Trafficking in Tennessee,” and the planning committee is bringing together experts for a public conversation at the event.

The event this year is ticketed at $10, with proceeds going to a Tennessee non-profit dedicated to human rights. For more information or to reserve a seat, visit www.nashvillehumanrights.org.  

Citizens Commission on Human Rights Holds Workshop to Help Parents

Mental health watchdog Citizens Commission on Human Rights held a lunch and learn to educate the community in honor of World Mental Health Day in October.

The Nashville Chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights was proud to have a special workshop to help parents learn how to raise healthy children in honor of World Mental Health Day. Working with a special chiropractor who is also a Maximized Living professional, the organization was able to bring awareness to several parents on children’s mental and physical health needs.

CCHR is determined to help educate people, especially parents, on their rights. “It’s important to us that parents know the dangers of psychiatric drugs, as well as the other options available to them so that their children lead happy and healthy lives,” says Meg Epstein, Executive Director of the Nashville CCHR Chapter.

The guest chiropractor laid out what to do if a child is experiencing a variety of health issues, and what parents can do to help their children be at a more optimum health level. She discussed societal norms where people are given a pill, and how that merely masks the problem without fixing it. Then she gave the five steps to maximize health, and how to really help children lead healthy lives.

CCHR is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious mental health industry watchdog whose mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health.  It works to ensure patient and consumer protections are enacted and upheld as there is rampant abuse in the field of mental health.  In this role, CCHR has helped to enact more than 150 laws protecting individuals from abusive or coercive mental health practices since it was formed five decades ago. For more information on CCHR, visit cchrnashville.org. 

Tennessee Native American Tribes Receive the Way to Happiness

The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee participated in this year’s Intertribal Powwow in Clarksville, Tennessee.

The Native Cultural Circle (NCC) of Clarksville held its nineteenth annual Intertribal Powwow this month with festivities all weekend long. Attendees came from all walks of life and enjoyed learning about and exploring Native American culture and traditions.

The Powwow is held each year in a location with special significance to Native peoples. According to the website, “during the Indian Removal of 1838, the Cherokee nation was taken from their traditional homes in Tennessee, Georgia, North Carolina, and Alabama, and forcefully relocated to the Indian Territories in what later became Oklahoma. The Powwow grounds lay along the northern land route. Diary records of the removal identify Port Royal, as ‘the last stop before leaving Tennessee, and as an encampment site where the Cherokee stayed overnight or longer to re-supply, grind corn and rest.’”

During the removal, an estimated 4,000 - 6,000 Cherokee died. The journey became known as “The Trail of Tears” or, as a direct translation from the Cherokee Nunna daul Tsuny, “The Trail Where They Cried.” The powwow is a time to commemorate the Trail of Tears and special ceremonies are held in remembrance of it.

This year, Rebecca Carter, a volunteer from The Way to Happiness Association of Tennessee (TWTH-TN) was welcomed to the powwow to distribute booklets written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s. The Way to Happiness booklet contains a common sense moral code that is interreligious and can be used by anyone. Carter said, “This booklet, when distributed to people in need, has such a great effect. You see whole communities uplifted once they learn the values contained within.” Two-hundred booklets were distributed to those attending.

For more information, visit thewaytohappiness.org. For more information on the Intertribal Powwow, visit clarksvilleonline.com. 

Citizens Commission on Human Rights Celebrates Cultures

Mental health watchdog Citizens Commission on Human Rights distributed materials to people of all cultures attending the Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival.

Tens of thousands of people attend the Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival each year during the first weekend in October. “This festival is absolutely incredible, and we knew we had to be part of it,” says Meg Epstein, the Nashville Director of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights, “Our mission is to end abuses in the field of mental health, and the first step toward this is spreading awareness to people.”

Mental health abuse doesn’t discriminate. Many different types of people have suffered it at the hands of psychiatrists they thought they could trust. So the Nashville Chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) has been on an all-out effort to reach everyone with the facts.

Most recently, volunteers had a booth at the Celebrate Nashville Cultural Festival, which this year was celebrating its 20^th anniversary. The festival began as the Celebration of Cultures in 1996 at the Scarritt Bennett Center. During that time, the foreign-born population was still small. Now, the foreign-born make up 15 percent of Davidson County, with many Latinos, and also refugees, like Kurds and Somalis. Mirroring that growth, the festival draws some 60,000 attendees. Organizers say that places the event among Nashville’s most popular — and it has become a model for other cities.

CCHR was at the festival distributing information about the common and well-documented side effects of psychiatric drugs, which include mania, psychosis, hallucinations, depersonalization, suicidal ideation, heart attack, stroke and sudden death.

CCHR is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious mental health industry watchdog whose mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health.  It works to ensure patient and consumer protections are enacted and upheld as there is rampant abuse in the field of mental health.  In this role, CCHR has helped to enact more than 150 laws protecting individuals from abusive or coercive mental health practices since it was formed five decades ago. For more information on CCHR, visit cchrnashville.org.

Artlightenment 2016 Art and Film Festival Coming in November

Eighth Annual Multi-media Art and Film Festival Slated for November 10-12.

Artlightenment, the annual multi-media art show and film festival, which showcases dozens of  visual artists, painters, sculptors and filmmakers, is slated to run November 10-12 at the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre Nashville, 1130 8^th Ave. S., Nashville, TN, 37203. Created by painter, sculptor and film producer, Robyn Morshead in 2009, this three day event also features workshops, live music and a fashion show, making it a vital force in Nashville’s creative community.

The theme of this year’s festival is “America-Its Cultures and Influences” and will feature the work of legendary painter Jim Warren, one of the most versatile and successful artists living today. The whimsically surreal and amazingly unique creations he paints have inspired artists from around the world. Winning a Grammy Award for his cover art of Bob Seger’s “Against the Wind” album, Warren has also painted portraits of such notable figures as Brooke Shields, the Beach Boys and Kelsey Grammar for the Fame-Wall project in New York and continues to collaborate with Disney Studios on various projects. Ticketholders will enjoy a rare opportunity, not only to see Mr. Warren’s work, but to meet him in person during a brief reception, on Saturday, November 12 at 6:30pm. He will then speak about his legendary career, which has spanned four decades.

In addition to Mr. Warren’s work, over 30 visual artists will have their art on display beginning at 6:00 pm on Thursday, November 10. The 2016 Film Festival will include short films created by both Nashville filmmakers and filmmakers from 35 countries around the world. These films will be screened nightly throughout the Festival.

Artlightenment is also proud to feature professors and student filmmakers from MTSU, including well-known Documentary Filmmaker Tom Neff who will showcase some of his photography. These works will be shown throughout the Festival’s three day run.

Tickets for this revolutionary event are $10 for three days. Ticketholders have access to all exhibits and workshops as well as the Film Festival and closing-night awards and fashion shows. For more information on the Artlightenment 2016 Art and Film Festival, to see the schedule of events, or to purchase tickets, please visit: http://www.artlightenment.com.  

Enjoy a sneak-peek of Artlightenment’s Art Show, (no ticket required) on November 5, which will dovetail with the WEHO Art Crawl, beginning at 6:00 pm at 1130 8^th Ave. S., Nashville, TN, 37203.

Human Rights Day Planning Committee Now Accepting Nominations for Awardees

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day will take place on December 6^th from 5-7pm in Nashville, Tennessee. The planning committee for the event is now accepting nominations for the prestigious human rights awards.

Tennesseans will gather on December 6^th to celebrate the ratification of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) by the United Nations, originally signed in 1948.

“Human Rights Day gives the community a chance to acknowledge advocates and leaders while also learning more about what human rights really mean for all people,” says planning committee chair Rev. Brian Fesler, who also pastors the Church of Scientology in Nashville.

The celebration centers around the three Human Rights awards: Rising Advocate, Outstanding Service and Lifetime Achievement. Fesler says that the committee has just opened the floor for nominations for this year’s awardees. Prospective names can be submitted at nashvillehumanrights.org/nominations.

The event will also have a panel discussion on child trafficking and various exhibits from human rights organizations. All information regarding the event can be found at the website nashvillehumanrights.org, and Fesler encouraged anyone interested to visit the website to find out how to get involved. 

Citizens Commission on Human Rights Distributes Information to Music Lovers

Mental health watchdog Citizens Commission on Human Rights distributed materials to music lovers attending a major two-day festival.

Mental health abuse doesn’t discriminate. Many different types of people have suffered it at the hands of psychiatrists they thought they could trust. So the Nashville Chapter of the Citizens Commission on Human Rights (CCHR) has been on an all-out effort to reach everyone with the facts.

Most recently, volunteers had a booth at the Pilgrimage Music and Arts Festival. The Pilgrimage Music and Arts Festival is a rootsy two-day event held just south of Nashville that is now in its second year, according to Rolling Stone Magazine.  The Tennessean says it is “shaping up to be one of the South’s premier festivals.”

CCHR was at the festival distributing information about the common and well-documented side effects of psychiatric drugs, which include mania, psychosis, hallucinations, depersonalization, suicidal ideation, heart attack, stroke and sudden death.

CCHR is a non-profit, non-political, non-religious mental health industry watchdog whose mission is to eradicate abuses committed under the guise of mental health.  It works to ensure patient and consumer protections are enacted and upheld as there is rampant abuse in the field of mental health.  In this role, CCHR has helped to enact more than 150 laws protecting individuals from abusive or coercive mental health practices since it was formed five decades ago. For more information on CCHR, visit cchrnashville.org. 

Spreading The Way to Happiness to the People of Honduras

Retired army veteran Jason Martin recently visited La Ceiba, Honduras, where he was able to distribute copies of The Way to Happiness to those in need.

Retired army veteran Jason Martin traveled from Nashville, Tenn., to Honduras as part of a missionary team. What started as a trip to complete construction on a house for missionaries, doctors and advisors soon turned into something even more meaningful. “I decided as part of that, I wanted to share The Way to Happiness with the locals who live in very poverty-stricken circumstances.”

Martin distributed sixty copies of The Way to Happiness booklet to those who could read, then took things a step further by setting up a small group for those who could not read to have the precepts read to them by others. The group would then discuss the precepts with one another so all would achieve full understanding of what was contained therein.

The Way to Happiness was written by humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard in the early 1980s, and since then has sparked a global movement. It has been passed hand to hand to a wide variety of cultures and peoples.

According to thewaytohappiness.org, “This code of conduct can be followed by anyone, of any race, color or creed and works to restore the bonds that unite humankind.” In the three decades since it was authored, 100 million copies of the booklet have been passed hand to hand. For more information about The Way to Happiness, visit thewaytohappiness.org. 

Tennessee United for Human Rights Holds Panel Discussion on Domestic Violence for Peace Day

The Tennessee chapter of United for Human Rights (TNUHR) held a dynamic panel discussion on International Peace Day this year.

How is domestic violence a violation of basic human rights? And what do people need to know to protect their rights and the rights of those they love? These topics were covered during the Tennessee United for Human Rights (TNUHR) Peace Day celebration for 2016.

TNUHR is a non-profit organization dedicated to bringing education and awareness about human rights to everyone. In 2009, United for Human Rights released a video history of human rights which begins with a series of diverse people on the street being asked a simple question—What are human rights? The answers were astonishing. Most people couldn’t name more than one or two of their human rights, and many people didn’t even know how to define human rights.

According to the University of Minnesota Human Rights Library, “People who do not know their rights are more vulnerable to having them abused and often lack the language and conceptual framework to effectively advocate for them.”

For this reason, TNUHR brought together experts and community leaders to discuss an issue that is hidden from view all too often: domestic violence. Under the theme: “Know Your Rights and Survive—Overcoming Domestic Violence,” five panelists came together representing the various stages a victim will go through as they seek help from their batterer. Panel members represented the YWCA’s Weaver Shelter, Metro Nashville Police Department’s Domestic Violence Division, Legal Aid Society, General Sessions Court, and the Tennessee Coalition to End Domestic and Sexual Violence.

The event was held in the community hall of the Nashville Church of Scientology and had a diverse crowd present to hear what they might do to help victims of domestic violence. One attendee noted, “The energy in the room was incredible—all of these people together talking about how we can help. This is needed to get people together to bring an end to the problem.”

For more information about Tennessee United for Human Rights, visit tnuhr.org.

Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day Will Bring Attention to Child Trafficking

The planning committee for the Tennessee celebration of International Human Rights Day has confirmed the theme for the event to raise awareness of child trafficking in the state.

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day occurs on or around December 10 each year, as that is the recognized date for Human Rights Day, as declared by the United Nations. The planning committee for the celebration has just released the theme for the event: Hidden in our Midst—Child Trafficking in Tennessee. This provocative and eye-opening theme will be the focus of the panel discussion and other elements of the event according to planning committee chair, Rev. Brian Fesler who is also pastor of the Church of Scientology.

“Human Rights Day is always a time for human rights leaders to come together and inspire the next generation,” he says, “and this year we will shine a light on an atrocity that people need to know about and help address.”  Expert speakers will enlighten and educate the audience on the extent of the problem and solutions in Tennessee.

Other components to the event include the presentation of awards to human rights champions in three categories: Rising Advocate, Outstanding Service and Lifetime Achievement. The committee will begin accepting nominations for the 2016 event sometime in early October.

The committee is comprised of human rights organizations and nonprofits, including the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Metro Human Relations Commission, United Nations Association, Amnesty International, Tennessee United for Human Rights, the Church of Scientology and others who work together each year to plan the event.

This year’s celebration will take place on December 6, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the First Amendment Center. For more information or to get involved, visit tnuhr.org.

Nashville Religion Communicators Council Talks Positive Politics

The Nashville Chapter of the Religion Communicators Council holds bi-monthly meetings to discuss hot topics and have deep discussions on what is happening in the world today.

An interfaith communications organization, the Religion Communicators Council, has chapters across the United States. In Nashville, the group meets every other month for its series “Building Bridges Over Bagels.” Organizers say this concept is all about strengthening ties between people of different faiths and breaking bread together.

In September, the group met for breakfast at Weigh Down Ministries, the church offices for the Remnant Fellowship Church in Franklin, TN.  According to its website, remnantfellowship.org, it is “an international community of people who are finding renewed hope, profound love and deep purpose by putting the undiluted teachings of Jesus Christ into practice… This Church has its roots founded in the Bible-based teachings of Gwen Shamblin through Weigh Down Ministries, who has a 30-plus years long-and-counting track record of helping people change their lives in every positive and productive way.” Past meeting locations have included the Church of Scientology, Baha’i Faith Community Center and Islamic Center of Tennessee.

During the meeting, the President of Nashville’s RCC chapter, Rev. Brian Fesler, had attendees discuss this year’s presidential candidates, however, required them to find something good to say about each. They next discussed how to spread these good messages further out into the community by setting a good example.

The RCC has members from every faith group and walk of life including Baha’is, Christians, Jews, Muslims, Scientologists, Sikhs, Hindus and more. For more information about the RCC or their next meeting, visit www.religioncommunicators.org.

Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day Set for December 6

The planning committee for the Tennessee celebration of International Human Rights Day has set a date for the 2016 event.

The Tennessee Celebration of International Human Rights Day occurs on or around December 10 each year, as that is the recognized date for Human Rights Day, as declared by the United Nations.

“Human Rights Day is a time for human rights leaders to come together and inspire the next generation,” says planning committee chair Rev. Brian Fesler, pastor of the Church of Scientology.

The celebration centers around the presentation of awards to human rights champions in three categories: Rising Advocate, Outstanding Service and Lifetime Achievement. Past recipients of these prestigious honors have included the Rev. Bill Barnes, Rev. James “Tex” Thomas, Kwame Lillard, Rosetta Miller Perry, Father Joseph Breen, Gatluak Thach, First Baptist Capitol Hill, and many more. The full list can be seen online at tnuhr.org.

A committee of human rights organizations and nonprofits, including the Tennessee Human Rights Commission, Metro Human Relations Commission, United Nations Association, Amnesty International, Tennessee United for Human Rights, the Church of Scientology and others, work together each year to plan the event.

This year’s celebration will take place on December 6, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the First Amendment Center.

The committee plans to feature many different human rights organizations, especially the Tennessee governmental and non-profit agencies that have commitments to the thirty rights as laid out in the UDHR. Organizations who wish to participate may contact the organizer through www.tnuhr.org.